How to Use the Record

To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page
⇒ Select the “County” category⇒ Select the “Record Type and Volume” category which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

Using the Information

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:

Use the date and locality to search for census and church records.

Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.

Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.

When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Tips to Keep in Mind

Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after 1900.

There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another record.

Witnesses in court cases may be close relatives.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

Check for variant spellings of the surnames.

Check for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local historical and genealogical groups also compile indexes to local records.

Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.

Related Websites

Related Wiki Articles

Contributions to This Article

We welcome user additions to FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles. We are looking for additional information that will help readers understand the topic and better use the available records. We also need translations for collection titles and images in articles about records written in languages other than English. For specific needs, please visit WikiProject FamilySearch Records.

Please follow these guidelines as you make changes. Thank you for any contributions you may provide.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.